Evergreen New Hope Health & Rehabilitation Center v. National Labor Relations Board

**Nursing Home Charge Nurses Cannot Join Union, Court Rules** This case involved a dispute over whether charge nurses at Evergreen New Hope Health & Rehabilitation Center could join a labor union. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) had previously ruled that these charge nurses were regular employees who had the right to form or join a union for collective bargaining. The nursing home disagreed, arguing that charge nurses were actually supervisors who shouldn't be allowed in the union. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the nursing home and overturned the NLRB's decision. The court found that the charge nurses were indeed supervisors under federal labor law because they had authority to direct other employees' work. As supervisors, they were excluded from union membership and collective bargaining rights. **What this means for workers:** This ruling clarifies that employees with supervisory responsibilities—even if limited—may not have the same union rights as other workers. If you supervise other employees as part of your job, you might be considered management rather than a regular employee, which could affect your ability to join a union. The line between "employee" and "supervisor" can significantly impact your workplace rights.